Drafting scale



M. GEORGES DRAF'TING SCALE Filed Sept. 28, 1955 June 7, 1960 l l I l l l l l l r l I l l I x United States Patent C DRAFTING SCALE Michael Georges, 29 Hawthorne St., Norwood, Mass. Filed sept. 2s, 195s, ser. No. 537,194

2 claims. (ci. sis- 107) This invention relates to open divided drafting scales and more particularly to an improved scale adapted to facilitate rapid and accurate measurements by draftsmen.

Conventional scales are usually provided with continuous straight edges having markings or graduations according to either the English or metric system, or both. While the markings on such scales are laid off with great accuracy, and are available in any desired sub-division, as, for example, quarters, sixteenths, sixty-fourths, etc., nevertheless the accuracy and speed with which measurements may be laid off is controlled to a large extent by the care exercised by the draftsman in positioning his pencil. lt is quite easy to mark off a measurement to one side or the other of a desired marking and thereby introduce an error. In drawings laid off to a small scale, a small error in measurement represents a large error when projected to the actual scale of the object or part illustrated in the drawings prepared by the draftsman.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a scale having notches therein for facilitating accurate positioning of the draftsmans pencil.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a preferred form of scale constructed according to Ithe present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view looking to the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of scale constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

lt is to be understood that scales constructed according to the present invention may be provided with indicators or markings representing units of measurement .in the English or metric system. The general construction of the scales in either system will be the same.

Referring now to Figs. l and 2, there is illustrated a scale 2 beveled along its sides to correspond in cross section to a parallelogram. The top and bottom surfaces of the scale are identied by numerals 4 and 8. The beveled sides are identified by numerals and 12. The lower and upper longitudinal measuring straight edges are identified by numerals 14 and 16 respectively. In general, a scale having a cross section of a parallelogram is described as an opposite bevel scale. However, in addition to the aforesaid conventional basic shape, the scale of Figs. l and 2 has certain additional unique structural features provided according to the present invention. edges of a conventional iiat or opposite bevel scale are uninterrupted, the upper and lower straight edges 14 and 16 of the scale of Figs. 1 and 2 have a plurality of identical V-sliaped notches or indentations 29 and 22 along its upper and lower straight edges respectively. The vertex or point of each of the notches 20 coincides with one of the graduations or markings 24 indicating specific units of length based on the English system of measures. In the present illustration graduations 24 Whereas the longitudinal measuring straight rrepresent inches and the Ytwo setsof numerals 1-9 running in reverse order indicate the number of inches as measured from the zero reference points at either end of the scale. While not shown, it is to be understood that similar graduations are provided on the bottom beveled side 12 of the scale for use with notches 22.

In addition to the notches, the scale is reduced in Width in the regions from the left hand end 28 to the iirst or left hand zero reference point, thereby producing short straight edges 30 and 32 offset slightly from straight edges 14 and 16 respectively. This reduction in width may be achieved by beveling or shaving sides 10 and 12 to produce short sides 10a and 12a. Similar short straight edges 3@ and 40 are provided at the opposite end 36 of the scale. The points marked oft or measured from the short offset straight edges are to be in line with the points marked off or measured by the notches 20 and 22. The ends of straight edges 14 and 16 are cut at an angle to form short guide surfaces '44, or edges similar to one side of notch 20 which meet the shorter straight edges 30, 32, 38 and 40 at the zero reference points. The angle of the short guide surfaces is determined experimentally so that when an average drawing instrument point is inserted for the purpose of making a mark as a point of measurement, then the mark produced corresponds as accurately as possible to the zero point of the scale. Furthermore, this mark, as explained above, will also be in alignment with the marks made by the drawing instrument point When placed in the notches.

Set olf along each of the short oifset straight edges are a series of graduations representing with respect to the zero reference points fractions of the units of measurement set oi along straight edges 14 and 16. In the illustrated embodiment the smallest graduations along the short straight edges are set olf in increments of 119,2 inch. The short offset straight edges are not notched for the reason that the graduations are too close to each other and also to aid in marking off measurements which fall in between the graduations of the particular scale being used. However, because the short edges are offset to he substantially aligned with the vertices of notches 20 and 22, any fractional measurement set olf by the draftsmans pencil will be in line with measurements set off at notches 2% and 22, assuming that in each case the draftsman places the point of his pencil close against the scale.

The improved scale of Figs. l and 2 greatly facilitates the task of marking off measurements. If, for example, it is' desired to measure olf six inches, the draftsman need merely set his pencil against guide surface 44 and the adjacent short straight edge to mark oli his zero point, and then moves the pencil to the notch coinciding with the marking labeled 6 at 45 to mark oi the desired distance. The notches serve to locate the pencil exactly at the correct point and thus relieve the draftsman of the need for looking very closely to make sure that his pencil is centered exactly.

Another manner of use is as follows: If a first point or vertical line has been established on the drafting surface near the left margin, for example, and it is desired to measure oli 61/2 inches to the right of the established point or line the left hand short straight edge is placed so that the 1/2 inch mark is in alignment with such point or line and the pencil is then placed in the six inch main notch to complete the measurement.

If the established point or line is near the right hand margin then the right hand short straight edge is use'd and the measurement is made from right to left. For the foregoing reasons, the inclusion of two small straight edges, one at each end of the line of notches increases the usefulness of the scale. Y 1- The principles of this invention are also applicable to other forms of scales. In, Figs. 3 to 6, for example, there is shown a modied form of scale providing a Nstra-iglzitA edge so it.v can beused witlr draftingmachines; Thisris aregular straight edge withoutthe usualbevelled edgejofthe customary scale which cuts into the pencil.

YIt willbe understood that the scales of Figs. land 3 might be made of. a thin strongmaterial such as steel in which case, the notches being of such small vertical dimension would not require that the edges of the scale Vbe' bevelled. However, considering` the thickness of the scalesv disclosed herein, bevelled edges are preferred.v

The scale shown in Figs. 3. to 6 generally comprises topv and' bottom surfaces 60 and 62, vertically disposed side surfaces 64 and 66, and beveled surfaces 68 vand 70vforrr1ing,y the top and side surfaces. Formed in the body of the scale are a plurality of openings ofA two types identified by the numerals 72 and 74. Openings 72 aresix-sided, being larger in a lateral direction at the top side.: 60 of the scale than they are at the bottom side 62. The longitudinal dimension of opening 72 is the sameat the top and bottom sides of the scale. Otherwise,xin a horizontal plane, the general shape of opening 72 is. theY same atVV both top and bottom. Each opening 72 is dened by two vertical surfaces 76 and 78.running parallel to each other in a lateral or transverse direction, and four surfaces 80, 82, 80a and 82a. Each of the latter four surfacesY lies in nonfparallel planes which are also non-parallel or oblique relative to the top, bottom andvertical sides of the scale. Surfaces 80 yand 82 are exactmrror images of surfaces 80a and 82a respectively. The lower edges of surfaces 80 and 82 deiine a V-shaped kno,tchand the lower edges of surfaces 80a and 82a do the;- same. These V-shaped notches are functionally the samezaspnotches and 22, acting to facilitate positioning.

ofthedraftsmans pencil. The reason for making surfaces 80, 82, 80a and 82a slope laterally inward of the sides k of thescale, as viewed in Fig. 3, is to provide for the fact that the end of the draftsmans pencil is conical, increasing inV diameter from the extreme tip. If surfaces 80 and 82 were vertical, it would be dicult to position the tip of the pencil in the vertex ofthe notch formed by the lower edges of the two surfaces. This difficulty is obviated by sloping the two surfaces 80 and 82. Moreover, if the two surfaces were vertical, it would be difficult to see the vertex of the notch delined by the-lower edges of surfaces 80 and 82. With the illustrated construction there.l is no such problem. Each of the openings 72 is so located that the vertices of the notches formed by the lower edges of its oblique sloping sides are predetermined distancesY from the corresponding vertices of the other identical openings, as, for example, distances of one inch assshown.

To allow for fractional measurements two openings of the type identified by the numeral 74 are shown. These openingsV are positioned at each end of the series of openings 72 and correspond in function to the reduced end sections of the embodiment of Fig. 1. Openings 74 consist of 8 surfacesv so Varranged that'the top and bottom ends of the openings are similar in shape, having the same longitudinal dimensions but different lateral dimensions; VvThe openings decrease in width going from top to bottom.r VEach opening 74 consists of two vertical transversely. extending sides 90 and 92 which, as seen in Fig'. 5, are trapezoidal in shape. Running in a longitudinal direction are two inclined sides 94 and 96 rectangularin shape. These sides bear marking and numerals indicative of fractions of the distance between each ofopenings 72.' Between', sides 90 and 94 Yis an inclined side 98 Vof parallelogram shape. The top and bottom 'edges of` side 98 are parallel and of the same length. The bottom edge of side 9 8 intersects the bottom edge `of zside- 94Std form aY corner V100. 4The last marking the Vfractional scale of side 94 is located at* corner 100.

Similar @auslegen-.Shared sides .102, V104 and 106 ars provided as shown in the other three corners. In Fig. 3, the zero reference points ofthe scales on sides 94 and 96 are located at the corners formed by the lower edges of sides 94 and V96 with sidesv 104 and 106 respectively. Corner 100 and the three other corners 101, 103, and 10S function like the corners formed by guide surfaces 44L andj'tlie shnrtoffsetstraight edge 38 and. 40. Corners 101 and 105 are lsubstantially in line with the vertices of the notches formed by sloping sides and 82 and 80a and 82a of openings 72. The distance between corner 100, and corner 101, of opening 74, and the vertices of the notches formed by sloping sides 80 and 82 is, in the present'embodiment, equal to an exact multiple of `the unitdistancebetween successive ones of said openings 72;

The openings- 72 and 74ffacilitate rapid setting olf of measurements due to the fact that their notches and corners permit accurate positioning of the draftsmans pencil or scriber. The embodiment of Fig. 3 may be utilized apartfrom the drafting machine, if desired, and, inaddition, its principles may beembodied in the scale of Fig. 1, or vice versa, so as to provide a drafting instru mentV having a plurality ofl dissimilar scales. By combining the principles of the two embodiments it would be possible, for example, to place indicia based on the English system along the edgesV of the scale as in Fig. 1

and indicia based on the metric system along the body of the scale as in Fig. 3. Y

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts specifically described or illustrated, and that within the scope of the appended claims it may be practised otherwise than as specifically described or illustrated.

I' clai-mz.

l. An open divided'V drafting scaleV comprising a body having'therein a plurality of notches spaced according to a measuring system, the bottom terminal ends ofV the vertices of said notches being substantially in the plane ofv the. under surface ofthe scale that is to be positioned adjacent the drawing surface, the vertices of said notches being in a straight lineV and accessible to a drafting instrument applied in vertical position and a short straight edge fixed withjrespect to said body and commencing at a point marking the beginning of a whole unit of said measuring system, said shortA straight edge bearing fractional markings to the extent at least of a whole unit of said measuring system, said short straight edge extending away from said notches and being substantially in alignment with the vertices of said notches whereby'markings on the drawing surface made by said drafting instrument when placed against one or more of said notches 4will be in alignment with any marking on the drawing surface appearing. adjacent said short straight edge. v2. A drafting scale as set forth in claim 1, in which said short straight edge is connected to said irst edge by an obtusely angled guide surface to form a corner for receiving a drafting instrument -at a position in alignment with other drafting instruments placed in said notches.

References Cited in the le of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS 8,398 Parsons s- Sept. 3(7), 1851 1,249,049 Eifel Dec. 4, 1917 1,728,420 Little Sept. 17, 1929 1,877,341 Kurtz Sept. 13, 1932 Y2,450,769 Rothblum Oct. 5, 1948 2,554,099 Ermold May 22, 1951 ,2,579,664 Gleasman s Dec. 25, :1951

' FOREIGN PATENTS 342,114' Great'B'ritain Ian. 29, 1931 

